Newcastle Council and Stockton Community Brace For Big Swells

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Stockton's coastline is expected to take a battering of the next few days, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a low-pressure system will hit the Hunter's coast line on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The system is likely to bring heavy rain, strong winds and large waves, with Newcastle Council putting safety measures in place, particularity in areas highly affected by erosion like Stockton. 

Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for swimming, surfing and rock fishing for all Newcastle beaches and both ocean bathes starting Tuesday until Friday. 

Newcastle Council will close beach access ways in Stockton and current traffic controls in place at Barrie Crescent and Mitchell Street will be reinforced.

Closures at Barrie Crescent, Mitchell Street, Stone Street Corner and Griffiths Road may be implemented depending on weather conditions. 

"The direction of the swell tends to be the defining factor I think in how much erosion we get in Stockton and how much erosion occurs," Save Stockton Beach Member, Simon Jones said. 

"The swell that's forecast for the next couple of days is coming from a South Easterly direction, and basically anything that comes out of the East will cause a significant amount of damage to the more Southern areas of Stockton, which are the areas that are already the most eroded."

"So this event certainly has the capacity to cause some damage."

Mr Jones said previously, big swells have resulted in significant clean up operations along Stockton's Coast. 

"More and more lately we're losing a lot of trees at the back of the beach, which are getting washed down onto the escarpment," Mr Jones said. 

"Also in the past there's been a lot of rock and other debris dumped in or behind the dunes, and we sometimes get contaminated stuff washing out the back of the beach when the erosion cuts into more of the escarpment. "

Newcastle Council is urging the community to follow safety warnings, abide by all road closures, and drive safely in the forecast extreme weather conditions.  

"Coastal erosion can change beach conditions dramatically and quickly. This can lead to sand cliff collapses without warning," Newcastle Council said in a statement. 

Image Source: The Guardian

Newcastle Beaches Closed as Powerful Surf Pounds the Coast

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Beaches in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie are closed today due to an intense, powerful swell.

The swell caused by a strong southerly and a high and low system coming to meet has created massive waves, rough conditions and unpredictable currents.

"The seas are really really big and are pounding all up and down the coastline creating very dangerous conditions for rock fishers, stay right away from it at the moment. Believe me, the Coop is a much better option at the moment.," said Hunter Surf Life Saving President Henry Scruton.

"Stay away from the ocean at the moment, it looks spectacular but it's certainly not the place to be swimming or surfing in. It's massive swells, lots of wave action and a lot of underwater currents."

Newcastle City Council lifeguards are asking everyone to heed the beach closures and stay out of the water today and until the conditions significantly ease.

"Definitely not swimming weather at the moment, we realise it is school holidays, but those who do need to have a swim, stick to the indoor baths and the pools. The seas at the moment are very large and very very cranky," said Henry Scruton.

He also said it could be three or four more days before the surf clams down.

All Newcastle beaches, including Stockton Beach, as well as Newcastle and Merewether Ocean Baths, are CLOSED again today due to dangerous conditions and very rough surf. The large swell is even more powerful and dangerous than yesterday's conditions. https://t.co/qxqIraQhdh

— City of Newcastle (@CityNewcastle) January 16, 2018